The first shipments arrived in Europe in time for Christmas, with the varieties Imperial and Sugraone. Jacques Joubert from export company Global Trading, said "quality and sizes have been good this season, brix levels average at 15 degrees."
Jacques who also exports to Russia, Asia, Middle East and Canada, says volumes this year are lower than last year by around 35% due to climate conditions. "The winter was much colder than normal, a late frost and a dry Spring with low temperatures in the start, resulting in no snow melt which left growers short of water for irrigation."
As for the overseas markets, he said the UK still has good demand but Europe has come almost to a halt, because according to Jacques the state of the economy in Europe means that the exporters want the payment against documents which is having a big affect on the smaller exporters market. The inflation is killing profit margins and a stable currency exchange makes it almost impossible to maintain a profitable business.
In Russia there is a price issue with South African grapes and large volumes of Chilean grapes on the market. On the whole prices are stable, but well down, at about 50% on the prices after the Peruvian season. Jacques blames Argentiean exporters for this saying they have killed the market by flooding it with produce and competing with there own produce.
For more information:
Jacques Joubert
Global Trading
Argentina
Tel: +54 264 421 7120
Mob: +54 9264 411 2565 (From Abroad)
+54 264 15 4112565 (local)
[email protected]
